Let’s get scrappy with Island Batik
see disclosure
I am thrilled to announce I am a returning Island Batik Ambassador for 2020. Please welcome back the returning Island Batik Ambassadors and welcome the new. You can find a link to the 2020 IBA’s below. Thank you Island Batik, it is a honor to represent you and your industry partners for a 2nd year.
Here’s how I know I love their fabrics: Because of my limited storage space I’ve never saved scraps of fabrics smaller than what I could get a 4″ square from and sometimes I would not save these. Now I have an IB scrap stash with pieces much smaller and it’s my only scrap stash. It never occurred to me that I was hoarding the smallest of scraps until this first challenge.
Our first challenge of the year was to create a scrappy quilt. A few months ago I purchased the AccuQuilt GO! Hexagon-1″, 1 1/2″, 2 1/2″ Sides Die with the intention of making a scrappy quilt. Who knew! 
I pulled a few of the smaller scraps I saved from last years challenges and decided to make hexi flowers. While digging through the basket I also came across Sprinkles which is a IB foundation fabric (see here). There were also a few larger pieces of the batik white solid scraps. So I decided to use both of them for a 2″ finished square patchwork background.
After turning the raw edge over freezer paper I appliqued the hexies down with a zigzag stitch and drew the leaves and stems. Because I am still recovering from a broken toe and have not received the Dr’s approval to put weight on the foot I decided to try some fmq on my domestic, photo below.
All my large Hobbs batting scraps go into a plastic tote and I found a piece just large enough to complete this project.
FMQ completed, the leaves and stems will come to life soon using Light Green Grey 2843 by Aurifil. I love how the white batik solid and Sprinkles blend for the background. The quilted swirls draw your attention away from the fact that it has 2″ squares as a background don’t you think?
The wind was not cooperating on this day. There is rain moving in and they are calling for 3-4″ before it ends and turns to snow so I figured I’d get the shots taken.
Binding. I used 2 1/2″ IB solid gray strips from my scrap basket, a total of 10 pieced to make the binding for this finished 30″ x 36″ baby doll quilt. Or maybe I will use it as a wall hanging? Seeing the above photo makes me wish I had added a sun or something else across the top and appliqued leaves instead of thread painting.
2nd scrappy quilt
Back in December I participated in an AccuQuilt promotion for the GO!Quilt . GO!Quilt is an online program preloaded with patterns to customize and print. See it here. For the promotion I made their Flash of Lightening design using the Speak Easy Collection scraps, you can see one of my posts here. To view the entire Speak Easy collection by Tammy Silvers click here.
The gray background (my favorite of their solids) is one of 14 batik solids from IB. You can view the other colors here.
Anyway I loved the quilt so much and since I still had scraps I made another. One I will keep for myself and the other I will spread the love by gifting it or perhaps donate to the annual QEM Fire Protection yearly fundraiser. This year I will have a vested interest since my son is a new volunteer.
I cant say which quilt I made for this challenge and which I made a couple months ago. but I love them both. I decided to go ahead and share the post pre-quilted because I know they will not be done before the end of the month. Both will be quilted when I am released from the Dr.
What I learned
I really need to practice fmq quilting on my Juki.
Consider completing the free motion quilting prior to adding the applique’s.
Hubby does not like the job of hanging or staging my quilts for photo shoots.
Thank you
Thank you Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Neeles and AccuQuilt for these great products. I hope to also try the Schmetz Needles for my next challenge.
What a fun way to use your hexagons! The smaller the dies, the better for scraps, right?!
Exactly, I hope to one day make a quilt with the small die.
Congrats and I am not surprised that you are hoarding Island Batik scraps. 😀 Hope the toe is not causing you too much discomfort. Ouch!
The toe is better, I can move it but it wont bend. I need to cut some of the scraps because the disorganization of the basket is driving me crazy, that’s why I usually don’t save them.
Pretty hexie flowers!
Thanks Susan and thank you for the linky party today.
Both of your scrappy quilts are absolutely lovely! Congrats on your 2nd year as Island Batik Ambassador! And way to go to your son! Thank you for linking up to Creative Compulsions!
Thank you Michelle
Love hexies! The colors in this and the quilting are divine! Your version of Flash of Lightning is gorgeous! Love the Speakeasy collection. Thanks for linking up to Wednesday Wait Loss.
Great job, Denise on both of these projects. Love the hexies the most, personally. ;^)
Thank you Chantal.
Great job on these quilts! Just an fyi I am not an ambassador this year….breathing!
I know, I am so sorry to hear that :(. I will still follow you on IG and stop by your site.
Your hexagon flower quilt is so cute! I really like how you quilted in the stems and leaves. I think your quilting looks great and fits the quilt perfectly!
Thank you, that is so kind.
Congrats on 2020 IBA! Love your scrappiness?
Thank you Vicki.
Two terrific projects to start off your new year, Denise! I really, really like the hexagon flowers; that would make a fabulous bed quilt. I laughed at your comment about hubby; mine is reluctant, too…but he always gives in. 🙂
Mine really didn’t have a choice. I had to pat myself on the back because I didn’t say a word when he was hanging them and left him alone. Didn’t want to press my luck.
I love the Accuquilt hexagon die. I probably use that one the most. Your flower quilt is cute!
Thank you. I will eventually get around to using it for an entire quilt thought I don’t know when.
Love all those happy fabrics. The hexagon quilt is exceptional!
That is so kind, thank you Sally
Pretty projects!
Thank you
Hi Denise! Hmm, I read your title and mentally said, okay. Let’s get scrappy. What’ve you got to persuade me into jumping into something scrappy?! And you have shared two projects that would indeed tempt me to play along. I have to agree with your love of IB fabrics – they are REALLY nice. Non-quilters really don’t understand the levels of fabric niceness. At all. I find that interesting that you don’t quilt over the appliquéd pieces. I do LOVE the pattern you chose for quilting – it really highlights those cute hexie flowers. ~smile~ Roseanne
Lets get scrappy was just the name of the challenge. I have seldom quilted over applique’s and in this one I am glad I did not. But I do wish I had quilted the background prior to adding the appliques. The flowers have puffed out pretty good from the background. I’m still indecisive on the quilting, it is not uniform :(. Some sections are more heavily quilted. I really need to do more fmq on my domestic.
Denise – I think it looks great! I never thought about quilting first and then appliquéing!
Lol, me either until after the fact. Bet I remember to do that next time.
The small quilt background is perfect. The “color” blends in and out reminding me of sunlight dappled by the leaves.
Thank you Gene, makes me wish even more I had added a sun.
Great hexagon quilt. I didn’t see that the background was pieced until you said it. I love scraps, even the smalles ones. Congratulations on staying as an IBA this year too!
Thank you Turid